Carousel

Following on from their first musical success of Oklahoma! Rodger’s and Hammerstein’s second musical collaboration of Carousel opened on Broadway in 1945, to great acclaim.

The story revolves around a carousel barker, Billy Bigelow (Stephen Tearle), who has a reputation for romancing the girls who visit the carousel. An encounter on the carousel with mill worker, Julie Jordan (Jo Pears), who Billy finds particularly beguiling, leads both of them to lose their jobs. They marry but it is a difficult union, with love seemingly only travelling in one direction.

Meanwhile, Julie’s work colleague and friend, Carrie (Perri Barley) is keen to confide in Julie of her blossoming romance with new beau, Mr Enoch Snow (Andy Stone), whom she plans to marry (When I Marry Mr Snow). He provides a total character contrast to Billy and is somewhat comedic, being upright and proper with standing in the community.

Penniless and jobless with a wife to support and a baby on the way, Billy allows himself to be persuaded by the no good Jigger (Tim Richardson) to take part in a robbery. To escape arrest, Billy kills himself.

After spending 15 years in purgatory for being unrepentant for his actions on earth, Billy is given the chance to redeem himself by the Starkeeper in Heaven (Colin Dearlove). He discovers he has a daughter, Louise (Gaby Richardson), and is permitted to return to earth for a single day to help her. Through his new found understanding and tenderness, Billy is able to lift his daughter out of her misery and make her understand that, as long as she has hope in her heart, she will Never walk alone.

The show is packed with musical favourites including, June is Bustin’ Out All Over, If I Loved You, What’s the Use in Wond’rin’, the well-loved soliloquy and now anthem song You’ll Never Walk Alone. These, alongside the colourful storyline, packed with both humour and depth of emotion, a great evening’s entertainment is guaranteed.

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